The invention relates to coloured gloss pigments having specific particle dimensions comprising a transparent core of a silicon oxide of the composition SiO.sub.0.03 to SiO.sub.0.95 and, optionally, further coatings of silicon dioxide, carbon, a partially transparent metal and/or a dielectric of high refractive index, to a coating method suitable therefor wherein metallic silicon is vapour-deposited in the presence of a low oxygen partial pressure, to the use of such gloss pigments in pigmenting plastics, surface coatings, printing inks and cosmetic compositions, and also to pigmented compositions comprising such gloss pigments.